"Campus Update" is a weekly e-newsletter published by LaGuardia's Division of Communications and External Affairs to provide news and information to the college community. | |
The Division of Communications and External Affairs offers various additional resources to help you share news with the campus, including an event calendar, photography, graphic design, and more. | |
The LaGuardia Community College Foundation encourages the college community and friends of the college to donate to LaGuardia’s #CUNYTUESDAY initiative. #CUNYTUESDAY is a special day of giving, held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, in alignment with the global Giving Tuesday movement. This year #CUNYTUESDAY is December 3. Funds raised through the campaign will provide students with scholarships, career programs, and critical resources that directly impact students’ lives. Students like Sujal Mahaseth, 19, an international student from Nepal majoring in Mechanical Engineering. And James Nunez, 38, a Brooklyn-native of Puerto Rican heritage, who returned to school after a 20-year hiatus to earn a degree in Hospitality, Tourism, and Events Management and make a better life for him and his husband. And Samia Shahid, an international student from Dhaka, Bangladesh, majoring in Computer Science. All three are first-generation college students who have benefited from Foundation support—including scholarships, stipends and support from LaGuardia CARES. Any donation amount is appreciated. Please click here to contribute. | |
Donations of non-perishable food, winter clothing, and toiletries, are sought by LaGuardia CARES, to ensure that the pantry is fully stocked for the holiday season. “Our students’ need is highest during the holidays and other school breaks, especially among our student-parents,” said Dr. Rhonda Mouton, Director of LaGuardia CARES. Needed items include canned goods and other food items that do not require refrigeration; new and gently used winter coats, clothing, and footwear; and shampoo & conditioner, feminine hygiene products, soap and body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, and deodorant. Please check expirations dates; items must be in original packaging. Monetary donations are also welcome; funds provide emergency aid to students and help restock the pantry. Donations can be made at the LaGuardia CARES office in C-235, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. To request help with sizable donations, or with vendor inquiries, contact LaGuardia CARES at (718) 482-5129 or laguardiacares@lagcc.cuny.edu. | |
Campus Life Celebrates Thanksgiving with Gratitude Feast in Poolside Cafe | |
Students enjoyed an early Thanksgiving meal in the Poolside Cafe on Tuesday afternoon, thanks to Campus Life’s Gratitude Feast. The Gratitude Feast, which was free for students to attend, featured a lineup of traditional Thanksgiving dishes such as turkey, mashed potatoes, and corn bread. It served as a special opportunity for the campus community to come together and kick off the holiday season. To learn more about upcoming programming hosted by Campus Life, contact campuslife@lagcc.cuny.edu or visit their event calendar. | |
College Discovery Hosts Alumni Panel Discussion | |
LaGuardia’s College Discovery program hosted an Alumni Panel Discussion on Thursday, November 21 in B-116B. College Discovery is a CUNY program to assist students who have the potential to succeed in college but lack the educational foundation and economic resources necessary to pursue a degree. Four LaGuardia College Discovery alumni shared their experiences about life after LaGuardia, with attendees: Tyshawn Washington (’24, Accounting), who is now pursuing a BBA in accounting at Baruch College; Mrhaba Ahmad (‘21), who studied political science at Queens College; Mantovani Bigot (‘14), who earned a bachelor’s degree from Hunter College and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management at Stony Brook University; and Jesus Benitez (‘17), who is currently pursuing a master's degree in TESOL, while also serving as the Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator for LaGuardia’s CUNY Fatherhood Academy. | |
College Closed November 28 to December 1 for Thanksgiving | |
Please note that LaGuardia will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday from November 28 to December 1. Happy Thanksgiving! | |
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Reserve Your Fall II Parking Permit on Dec. 2 | |
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On Monday, December 2, 2024 at 10 a.m., you can RSVP for the Fall II 2024 parking pass via TicketLeap. Once you have “reserved” a permit, use your “TicketLeap Confirmation Number” to complete the Parking Application, along with personal and vehicle information. Completed Applications and payment can be submitted in person Tuesday, December 3 through Friday, December 6 at the Bursar’s Window (C-110) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day. After your payment has been submitted, you will receive an email from no-reply@billing.metropolis.io; you must click the link to “claim” your parking permit with the lot operator, Metropolis. Fall II Parking Permits are $134 and are effective December 27, 2024 through March 3, 2025. If you have any questions, please email financeoffice@lagcc.cuny.edu or bursar@lagcc.cuny.edu. | |
LaGuardia Community Invited to Closing Sessions and Holiday Reception on December 4 | |
President Kenneth Adams invites all faculty and staff to attend the Fall Closing Sessions on December 4 in the Little Theater (M-Building). Remarks will begin at 12:00 p.m. Closing Sessions will be followed by the Holiday Reception and Faculty Council's Auction and Plant Sale in the E-Building Atrium. If you're interested in purchasing a poinsettia, cactus, or wreath at the Plant Sale, please place an order here no later than November 26. | |
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Join the Division of Communications and External Affairs (CEA) for a workshop to focusing on marketing and communications best practices. Learn about CEA guidelines relating to the website, social media, videography, flyers/ posters, digital displays, and more. Working with Communications & External Affairs will be held on Tuesday, December 3 at 2 p.m. in Room E-500; please RSVP to attend. | |
LAGUARDIA AND WAGNER ARCHIVES | |
LaGuardia Wagner Archives Staff Commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance at City Council Chamber | |
On November 20, the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives staff commemorated the national Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience with a photography exhibition honoring the history of the transgender community of Queens at the New York City Council Chambers. Queens is the site of the largest transgender community in the world. This has made the annual Queens Pride Parade a rallying cry against transphobia. The Archives’ display documents support for the trans community from the first parade in 1993 to the present. The Archives team thanks New York City Council LGBTQIA+ Caucus Co-Chairs Erik Bottcher and Tiffany Cabán, partners who helped make this exhibition possible. | |
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John Fletcher is a Queens native of Jewish and Korean descent who recently graduated from LaGuardia with a degree in Business Administration. At LaGuardia, he served as a President’s Society Ambassador and President of the Student Government Association. Graduating in 2024, he achieved his dream of attending Columbia University, thanks to the LaGuardia Foundation. As we approach CUNY Tuesday on December 3, join us in empowering students by making a donation to the LaGuardia Foundation. 100% of your donation will support LaGuardia students and help students like John access scholarships, career programs, and other critical resources. | |
GEL Hosts International Visitors, Sparks Collaboration with Academic Programs in Poland and Taiwan | |
The Office of Global and Experiential Learning (GEL) hosted visitors from Poland and Taiwan earlier this month. On November 7, Professor Katarzyna Papaja introduced LaGuardia faculty to multiple opportunities to collaborate on research and teaching with colleagues at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. In addition to LaGuardia faculty, a handful of CUNY colleagues attended the meeting. Ruth Kamona, University Director of International Student & Scholar Services, and Nodira Pirmukhamedova, International Student Compliance Specialist, discussed how students from Poland can benefit from attending CUNY. Then, on November 25, Shirley Lin and Mick Wang, leaders of the Chinese Language Program at Shih Chien University (SCU) in Taipei, Taiwan gave a presentation about different programs available for students to study Chinese at Shih Chien University. Professor Melissa Hui-Mei Fan from SCU also discussed her COIL collaboration between her English course and LaGuardia Professor Santo Trapani’s First Year Seminar in Business and Technology. The project “When Tea Meets Coffee” focused on comparing business practices in the bubble tea industry in Taiwan and coffee industry in the US. Faculty and students who wish to learn more about connecting with University of Silesia and Shih Chien University can contact GEL co-director Olga Aksakalova at oaksakalova@lagcc.cuny.edu. | |
The December 2024 issue of the American Journal of Physics will feature LaGuardia Professor Dr. Frank Wang’s latest research on Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Dr. Wang, a Professor in the Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science Department, has been fascinated by Einstein’s general relativity since he was a child. When he helped organize a solar eclipse viewing at LaGuardia earlier this year, his interest in the topic was reignited. In his recent research, he found that a common textbook formula students learn in school is incorrect by a factor of three, a mistake that can be traced back to an oversight made by Einstein in 1911. Read Dr. Wang’s paper here to learn more. | |
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Dr. Thomas Onorato Co-Authors Paper in Nature-Scientific Reports | |
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Dr. Thomas Onorato, Professor of Biology (Natural Sciences), co-authored a research paper published online on November 18 in Scientific Reports, a broad open-access journal of the Nature Portfolio. The paper, titled “A molecular basis for spine color morphs in the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus,” explores the genetic and molecular mechanisms behind the color variations in the spines of this sea urchin species. The findings confirm that spine color in Lytechinus variegatus follows classic Mendelian genetics. The study also revealed that pigmented immune cells, which are highly migratory, play a role in wound repair and maintaining the microbiome on the spines. “We show that spine color of sea urchins has a genetic basis, similar to how hair color is determined in humans,” said Dr. Onorato. “What’s interesting is that these cells aid in immunity, a key component of an organism’s defense mechanisms. This raises the question, what ancient immune response mechanisms are conserved in humans and other deuterostomes?” | |
Dr. Onorato conducted this research during his fall 2022 sabbatical, collaborating with Dr. Gary Wessel, the principal investigator, at Brown University. Dr. Onorato has been working with Dr. Wessel since 2011 and holds the title of Visiting Scientist in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Brown. A notable member of the research team was Gerardo Reyes (LaGuardia’15, Biology), a PhD candidate at Brown University and a former student of Dr. Onorato. | |
Supporting Students’ Mental Health: Faculty Support Circles Coming Soon | |
Faculty play a key role in supporting students with mental health challenges. However, providing support to students in need can leave a significant emotional toll. LaGuardia faculty who are feeling overwhelmed or stressed out due to their student’s mental health challenges are invited to attend Faculty Support Circles, organized by Dr. Donna Siergie-Munsey, DNP, RN, an Assistant Professor in the Health Sciences Department. Faculty Support Circles aim to provide faculty members with a community of peers who are also navigating the complexities of supporting students with mental health difficulties. Faculty who participate will learn practical, effective coping mechanisms and support techniques in the company of colleagues who understand what you’re going through. Stay tuned for information on the date, time, and meeting location of Faculty Support Circles. Please reach out to Dr. Siergie-Munsey at dsiergie-munsey@lagcc.cuny.edu to RSVP and/ or receive more information about Faculty Support Circles. | |
Students looking for enrollment services support can now access virtual office hours every Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Virtual One Stop takes place on Zoom and allows students to drop in and meet with staff from the Admissions, International Student Services, Registrar, Student Financial Services, Student Information Center, Transfer Credit Evaluation and Testing offices. | |
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Women’s Basketball
- December 5, 5:30 p.m. at Queensborough
- December 7, 1 p.m. vs. Suffolk
- December 10, 6 p.m. at Bronx CC
- December 14, 12 p.m. at Sullivan CC
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Men’s Basketball
- December 5, 7:30 p.m. at Queensborough
- December 7, 3 p.m. vs. Suffolk County
- December 10, 8 p.m. at Bronx CC
- December 14, 2 p.m. at Sullivan CC
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Updates from LaGuardia’s Library | |
- It’s National Native American Heritage Month. Check out our collection of books.
- The Library will be closed Thursday, November 28 - Sunday, December 1. We will re-open on Monday, December 2, at 8 a.m. Please see our calendar for more details.
- LRC 103, our Internet Research Strategies course, is a one-credit class. You can find more information about this class and our other classes here.
- Free digital subscriptions to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal are available to all students, staff, and faculty. Use your LaGuardia email to sign up.
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HUMAN RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL UPDATES | |
Receive Your 2024 W-2, 1127 Waiver and 1095C Forms Electronically
As an employee of a CUNY Community College, you may choose to have your 2024 W-2, 1127 Waiver and 1095-C forms delivered electronically instead of by paper copy. Electronic Delivery is voluntary, secure and accurate. To choose Electronic Delivery, log in to your NYCAPS Employee Self-Service (ESS) account. The electronic version can be viewed, printed and/or downloaded.
Employees are reminded:
- If you have previously chosen Electronic Delivery, do not re-enroll.
- To electronically receive your 2024 W-2, 1127 Waiver and 1095-C Forms, select the paperless option in ESS before noon, Friday, January 3, 2025.
- You will receive an email providing instructions for securely accessing your 2024 W-2, 1127 Waiver and 1095-C forms.
- If you choose electronic delivery after noon, Friday, January 3, 2025, your 2024 W-2, 1127 Waiver and 1095-C forms will be printed and mailed directly to you.
- All employees in an inactive leave status on Friday, January 3, 2025 will have their 2024 W-2, 1127 Waiver and 1095-C forms printed and mailed directly to them.
For more information about NYCAPS, visit About NYCAPS Employee Self-Service. If you have questions, contact LaGuardia’s Payroll Department at payroll@lagcc.cuny.edu or ext. 5518.
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CCA Webinar Invitation: The Connection Between Exercise and Mental Health
You are invited to attend an exciting upcoming CCA webinar on The Connection Between Exercise and Mental Health, delivered by a sought-after expert on this topic, Shanti Douglas.
In this class, participants will learn how exercise benefits our immune system, reduces our risk for contracting disease, and lowers our stress levels. Explore how to get started on a healthy path towards improved mental health and how to stay motivated to reach your goals!
For questions and additional information, please contact Yasu Denda.
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CUNY Benefits Office Open Enrollment Until November 30 | |
Open enrollment for active employees and retirees is November 1- 30. Open enrollment is the one time during the year when you can change your benefit elections, add or remove dependents for health, dental and vision plans without a qualifying life event. For more information, visit: Benefits Open Enrollment 2024. | |
Introducing the DoIT Project Management Office (PMO) Request Form!
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new, streamlined process for requesting project management services from the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) Project Management Office (PMO). The PMO coordinates a wide range of initiatives using rigorous project management methodologies, ensuring structured guidance and successful outcomes. In an advisory capacity, the PMO involves stakeholders, e.g., Student Affairs (SA) and Academic Affairs (AA), to establish IT-related project requirements, produce detailed planning, scheduling and work documents, and coordinate ongoing activities for the duration of a project.
To request PMO support for your IT-related projects and provide us with a clear understanding of your project needs, complete and submit the PMO Request Form. You can access the form in the Faculty and Staff Portal. On the left-side navigation, under “Request Support,” select “Project Management Office Request Form.” Please refer to the “How to Start a Project Management Request” guide for help with accessing and completing the form. Once we review your form, a project manager will contact you to discuss your request and outline the next steps.
For questions or additional information, please contact Jetmir Troshani at jtroshani@lagcc.cuny.edu.
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Recognizing and Reporting Phishing
Receiving unexpected messages requesting personal information should put you on alert to proceed with caution. Take a moment to assess whether the email looks legitimate before opening or clicking on links or attachments.
Resources to help Recognize and Report Phishing:
CUNY emails, supporting information and a growing security resources list are available on National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) and CUNY Information Security.
If you suspect you’ve received a suspicious or phishing email, please forward it to spam@lagcc.cuny.edu. If you already responded to a phishing email, clicked on an attachment or link, immediately contact our IT HelpDesk by submitting a ticket through the Faculty & Staff Portal or by email at ITHelp@lagcc.cuny.edu, or call 718-482-6134.
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IT Reminder: Complete Mandatory Cybersecurity Awareness Training
This is an important reminder to log in to Blackboard and complete the Cybersecurity Awareness Training course. You can find this course under the “Organizations” tab, along with the other essential annual training courses required for CUNY employees. This course was developed specifically for CUNY and covers phishing attacks, spam, and best practices for protecting your CUNY accounts and sensitive data. We encourage you to take it as soon as possible to protect the University's data, as well as your own. Your active involvement is crucial to our collective security efforts. If you have any questions regarding the training, please contact Maritza Acero.
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LAGUARDIA IN THE HEADLINES | |
"Campus Update" is produced and published by the Communications and External Affairs Division. Faculty and staff who wish to submit items for publication can email CampusUpdate@lagcc.cuny.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for publication on Wednesday. |
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